After the mega-success of its previous work, The Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot took to the road for two years and managed to crank out an entire album during its tour. Avoiding the quantity vs. quality dilemma, it has turned in an even better album under the stress of the road. Nothing is Sound is outstanding power-pop executed with precise and accurate brilliance.
The CD commences with the rocking "Lonely Nation," which laments how we have alienated ourselves through materialism, technology, and fulfillment of the id. The current radio hit, "Stars," follows next, a bombast of crunchy guitars and a tight rhythm section. Jon Foreman's voice never sounded better.
A deep, effective tune is "Happy Is a Yuppie Word," taken from an interview with Bob Dylan when asked if he was happy. Dylan replied, "Those are yuppie words, happiness and unhappiness. It's not happiness or unhappiness, it's blessed or unblessed." This is where Switchfoot is so effective at sprinkling its dogma in without bashing you over the head: "I'm looking for the kingdom coming down."
Things slow down with "The Blues," a fantastic ballad that shows off the talents of the band's aural sensibilities, as it is layered with a multitude of atmosphere and emotion.
My favorite song is "The Fatal Wound," a complex, juxtaposed tune that gets in your craw. Great acoustic guitar and powerful chorus make this song a treat.
The CD ends with "Daisy," and I must admit, I have an attraction to it because it's the name of one of my beagles! The song makes use of simple detuned acoustic that builds to a tidal wave of greatness. It's a beautiful song about letting the trappings of life go and allowing in the life spirit.
Switchfoot has released its best record to date.
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis September 2005Reviewed by Jacob GehmanWhen I was little, my mom worked in a Christian bookstore. That meant that I was allowed little privileges the kids at my church weren't privy to. For instance, the music buyer would get pre-releases of albums and my mom would nab some of them for me. Or, on a really good day I might be allowed to enter the buyer's office and select some things on my own from a certain shelf. One of the little…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Jonathan AvantsThere's a lot to like about Switchfoot. They've delivered many a musically catchy and lyrically witty pop/rock tune throughout their now five-release history, and have been esteemed and beloved by critics in the Christian music industry for years. They made the big jump to the mainstream with last year's The Beautiful Letdown, and with their latest debuting at number 3 on the sales charts with…Similar sounding releases
2005WeezerMake Believe
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2003By The TreeRoot
2004Collective SoulYouthMore from Switchfoot
1999New Way To Be Human
1997The Legend of Chin
2000Learning to Breathe
2003The Beautiful Letdown
2004Live in San Diego (Video)
